Monday, October 4, 2010

Band 2: Green River

So, I live in Seattle, Washington, where a lot of my favorite bands come from. I do like a wide variety of music, though, so don't expect to throw your computer into the pit whenever you visit.

I don't know too much about these guys, but I do love them.

Alright, tonight's second post is on Green River, if you couldn't tell already. They formed in Seattle in 1984, them being Mark Arm on lead vocals and guitar, Steve Turner, also on guitar, Alex Vincent on drums, and bassist Jeff Ament, who would later become a part of Temple of The Dog (Maybe next post?) and then Pearl Jam, and Bruce Fairweather. Stone Gossard, who would also later become part of Temple of The Dog and Pearl Jam, joined in later to play guitar so Arm could concentrate on singing.

They, like Mad Season, only released on album, given a long active career (1984-1988). The album, by the name of Dry As A Bone/Rehab Doll, a combination of their 2 EP's was released on Sub-Pop records in July of 1988(?).

If anything, constant fighting between Ament/Gossard and Arm took the spotlight over the music once recording for the Dry as A Bone EP started. Ament and Gossard wanted to pursue a major-label deal, and Arm wanted to remain independent. On Halloween night, Ament, Gossard, and Fairweather told the band that they were going to quit, but continue work on the full-length album.

While Arm and Turner recruited Matt Lukin, the bassist for The Melvins at the time, and Dan Peters, the drummer for Bundle of Hiss to form Mudhoney, Ament, Gossard and Fairweather went a different route. They joined Malfunkshun ex-vocalist Andrew Wood as a cover band named Lords of The Wasteland. They soon became Mother Love Bone. They quickly rose to popularity in Seattle, and just before their album debut in 1990, Andrew Wood suffered a fatal overdose.

That same year, Gossard and Ament joined forces with Chris Cornell, Matt Cameron and Mike McCready to form the Andrew Wood tribute band Temple of The Dog.

And that was that. Green River reunited for 4 shows in late 2008, but nothing since then. Cornell continued his work with Soundgarden after Temple of The Dog, and Gossard, Ament, Cameron, and McCready formed together with Eddie Vedder and Dave Krusen to form Pearl Jam.

I guess it kind of worked out for everybody.

Now, why are they awesome?

To me, it's that sludgy, somewhat Stooges-inspired punk rock. They were considered to be one of the very first grunge bands, and I believe it to be true.

Their raw sound, with the crunchy, epic lead guitar lines, and fast paced sewer punk, and killer vocals made them who they were. The songs I'd recommend are... well, their entire album, except maybe Ain't Nothin' to Do. Not my favorite.